Rear-End Car Accident Lawyer in Hollywood FL
If you’ve been injured in a rear-end crash in Hollywood, Florida, or anywhere else in the State, and someone else was to blame, you could be eligible for compensation. If you are reading this, you’re probably in pain from your injuries and worried about how you’ll pay the medical bills that are streaming in. Maybe you are even too scared to seek the medical treatment that you know you really need because of the cost. If your injury has caused you to miss work, you are probably also stressed about how to pay your bills and usual living expenses.
You shouldn’t have to pay the price if the rear-end accident wasn’t your fault. Instead, contact the Hollywood rear-end collision lawyers of Rosen & Ohr, P.A., to discuss your options for the best path forward. Initial consultations are free, so it won’t cost you anything to learn about your options. You also pay no fees or costs unless we recover money for you.
How Our Law Firm Helps People Hurt in Rear-End Crashes in Hollywood, FL
When you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be tempted to deal directly with the insurance company yourself. This is a terrible idea. Remember, insurance companies are businesses and their goal is to pay as little as possible – and they’re skilled at doing so. Working with an attorney who understands how insurance companies handle negotiations will put you in a better position so you’re not left going at it alone with a tough negotiator who really only cares about their profits.
Our firm has represented many people injured in car accidents throughout Broward County and all of South Florida, including Hollywood. We can put this experience to work for you by:
- Investigating the accident to determine all potentially at-fault parties
- Locating and obtaining insurance coverage information
- Gathering available evidence to prove your claim
- Retaining experts to prove fault and to perform accident-reconstruction
- Communicating with the insurance company, so you don’t have to worry about jeopardizing your claim
- Negotiating for an appropriate settlement with the insurance company
- Taking your case to trial if the insurers won’t cooperate or make an insufficient offer
What Are the Most Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions in Hollywood, FL?
Over 32,000 crashes were reported in Broward County in one recent year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Over one-third resulted in some sort of injury.
Rear-end collisions happen for many reasons, from following too closely to hazardous road conditions, distracted drivers, and texting while driving, as well as other reasons. The severity of any resulting injuries often depends on the size of the vehicles involved, their speed, and the cause of the accident, such as:
- Tailgating – Following too closely does not allow a driver enough time to react if the car in front quickly stops or if the tailgating driver gets distracted and does not realize the vehicle in front is slowing down.
- Distracted driving – According to the NHTSA, Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents. Distracted driving occurs when a person’s eyes, hands, or attention is removed from the task of driving. Even a momentary distraction can result in a horrible crash.
- Speeding – Speeding is often the cause of severe injuries because with greater speed comes a greater force of impact. Speeding also decreases the amount of time someone has to react.
- Driving under the influence (DUI/DWI) – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs also affects a driver’s ability to focus on the road and properly react to road conditions. While the statutory limit is 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC), impairment can begin well under that threshold. If your injuries are from a drunk or impaired driver, you may be entitled to additional money meant to punish that driver.
- Inclement weather – When there is heavy rain, fog, or even the occasional ice, drivers need to adjust their behaviors to adverse conditions by keeping a better lookout and reducing their speed.
- Mechanical failure – An unfortunate reason for other rear-end collisions is mechanical failure. It may make pursuing compensation after a rear-end collision claim more complex because additional parties like mechanics and manufacturers could be liable. However, that also means more money could be available.
- Driver fatigue – Drowsy driving can cause severe rear-end collisions, and the long commutes and hectic schedules many people have make them especially prone to fatigue. There are no federal requirements for regular breaks for normal drivers like there are for truckers. But driving while overly tired can be very dangerous and lead to crashes for any driver.
Understanding Liability in Florida Rear-End Car Accident Cases
Florida is a no-fault car insurance state, meaning all drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to pay for their initial medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. You must first turn to your insurance coverage for your medical expenses when you’ve been in a crash. However, this does not mean you are barred from recovering compensation from the at-fault party.
To recover compensation from another party, you must show that their negligence caused the rear-end collision. After that, you generally must also show that your injuries meet the serious injury threshold, in that they resulted in any of the following:
- Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent and significant loss of a major bodily function
- Within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, a permanent injury (not scarring or disfigurement)
- Death
Compensation in a Hollywood Rear-End Car Accident Case
Our experienced rear-end collision attorneys can help you seek compensation for the following losses:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost wages and loss of ability to earn money
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Property damage
What Should I Do After a Rear-End Accident in Hollywood FL?
If you are involved in a rear-end collision, taking the following steps can protect your health and your right to financial recovery:
- Get immediate medical attention for the benefit of your health and begin documenting your accident-related injury.
- Call the police to report the accident so they can create an accident report.
- Take photos of the vehicles, injuries sustained, the area where the accident occurred, and anything else that is relevant.
- Get contact information from the other driver and witnesses, as well as license plate numbers.
- Keep copies of all the records and documentation related to the accident, including prescription receipts, repair estimates, and medical records.
- Maintain a journal to track your pain levels and how your injuries affect your daily life.
- Stay off social media to prevent the insurance company’s attorneys from using your posts out of context. Do not post photos of yourself or discuss your accident online.
- Contact an experienced attorney immediately and before speaking with any insurance companies.
Contact Our Experienced Hollywood, FL, Rear-End Car Accident Attorneys Today
At Rosen & Ohr, P.A., we understand that many people worry about how much it costs to hire an experienced car accident attorney after a rear-end collision in Hollywood. That’s why we offer completely free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us legal fees if we win your car accident case.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for a completely free consultation with our dedicated Hollywood rear-end collision lawyers today to discuss your case.